Eli Manning claims no wrongdoing in memorabilia scandal
By Kevin McHugh
Eli Manning stated Thursday he did not sell memorabilia to collectors under false pretenses.
Manning has spoken up regarding accusations that he profited from false memorabilia in an interview with the New York media on Thursday.
According to Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News, Manning claimed his innocence after a Giants’ practice on Thursday:
"“Hey guys, before we get started, I would like to address what’s been going on in the news the past couple days,” Manning said. “However, because this is a pending litigation, I will not be able to answer questions or go into specific details on the matter.”“I will say,” he continued, becoming visibly choked up, “that I’ve never done what I’ve been accused of doing. I have no reason, nor have I ever had any reason, to do anything of that nature. I’ve done nothing wrong, and I have nothing to hide. And I know that when this is all done, everybody will see it the same way.”"
Manning declined to go into detail regarding the specifics of the lawsuit, but it is clear he is unhappy that his integrity is being questioned.
Known as a class act throughout his career with the Giants, the allegations against Manning are confusing, as you wonder who stands to benefit from these accusations.
Whether this damages Manning’s reputation remains to be seen, but these claims present an unwelcome distraction for the Giants, who have gone all-in as far as setting themselves up for a Super Bowl run in the twilight of Manning’s career.
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Manning, 36, is hoping for one more Super Bowl run. General manager Jerry Reese has built up a quality supporting cast that includes an elite defense and two high-end receivers in Odell Beckham Jr. and Brandon Marshall. A third title might make Manning a slam-dunk Hall of Famer, as he readies to eclipse 50,000 passing yards for his career.